Instructor Donny Thompson Likes Feel and Functionality of Greatmats

Having trained in martial arts since 1983, AKF Family Martial Arts of Cartersville owner Donny Thompson has learned to appreciate the gentler side of the his sport.

A 4th Dan in Taekwondo, Thompson, beginning at the age of 12, regularly competed and admitted he wasn’t the nicest of competitors. So, after taking a break from martial arts when he started his family, he began looking for a place for his son to train that utilized a much friendlier approach.

He found that with Master Merrill Sinclair of Sinclair’s Kyuki-Do Martial Arts in Dallas, Georgia.

”It was non competition, which I loved,” Thompson said. ”I didn’t want my son to have to go through all of that.”

Although his son didn’t take to it as much as he’d hoped, Thompson’s love for the martial arts was reborn, and he has worked his way up to his 3rd Dan in Kyuki-Do, which he achieved in April of this year. Shortly thereafter, he opened his own school in Cartersville, Georgia.

Equipping Academy with Cheerleading Mats

Under the recommendation of the American Kyuki-Do Federation, which uses Greatmats martial arts mats in several of its schools, Thompson chose to equip his new academy with Greatmats 2 inch thick carpet-topped cheerleading mats.

Why cheerleading mats, you ask?

”I like the feel, personally, of the mat itself under your feet,” Thompson said. ”I was used to carpet on concrete, honestly, so it had that nice firm feeling, but when you hit the ground it’s not like hitting the concrete. … They’re thick enough to be cushiony, but they’re firm enough that you can do your techniques without sinking into the mat.”

”They’re very easy to clean,” he added. ”All you need is a vacuum, and they hold up very well. As long as you take care of them properly, they don’t have a problem lasting for years. Some of the vinyl tops, you have to worry about holes getting poked in them, and in the mornings, when it’s cold, they’re cold. These don’t have that problem.”

These particular mats come in 42 foot rolls. So after cutting them to fit his space, Mr. Thompson had enough leftover to wrap them around the poles in his academy and use them as pole pads.

”They work totally awesome for that,” he said. ”I use the straps that came with the original ones, and it worked. I was very pleased. They’re thicker than a regular pole pad and so people can hit them harder.”

Family Oriented Environment

Having found success back in the day competing with the United States Taekwondo Union, he’s now chosen a different path.

”We are family oriented,” he said, noting that he doesn’t what the message of his academy to being ”Look what I did” as much as ”Look what I can do for you.”

”It’s a whole different mindset (than competing),” he added.

That family-oriented mindset fits in perfectly with the AKF, which recently presented Thompson with his 3rd Dan Certificate at its annual Black Belt Extravaganza in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

”I go every year,” Thompson said about the Black Belt Extravaganza. ”It is immensely fun. … I come from a side of martial arts where… you rarely saw anybody from other schools unless you go to a tournament or a big test that everyone had to get together for. But for the most part, you did your own thing as far as schools went. The AKF is totally different. … Everybody’s there supporting each other. I go, not just for the seminars, but to see the people of the AKF – my martial arts family. We call ourselves the Kyuki-Do Nation, but we’re really the Kyuki-Do Family.”

Quality Home Improvement, Inc – Christopher Moss

By Brett HartWhen Quality Home Improvement, Inc. owner Chris Moss was hired to complete a garage transformation for an indoor basketball court for the father of twin standouts Adam and Abraham Bell of California’s Twentynine Palms High School, he knew that the quality of his work and materials needed to be the best of the best.

Before Installation of Greatmats Wall Pads

After Installation of Greatmats Wall Pads

The father of two of the top high school basketball players in the nation, Rickey Bell, wanted to create a space where they could pursue their NBA dreams by working on their game at home.

”They turned to Quality Home Improvement, Inc. to get the best of the best,” Moss said. ”We have done work for Rickey in the past, so we have an amazing trust factor going with this family. We were honored to be selected in this process. This is why we found Greatmats.”

Moss used Greatmats’ 2×6 foot wall pads as well as a couple of custom wall pads for safety behind the basketball hoops.

He said the Greatmats wall mats were ”professionally made, durable and good looking.”

As for the Bells’ reactions…

”They loved the entire process,” Moss said. ”It’s like being on an NBA court even though you are in a large RV garage.”

Moss added, ”If I, or anyone else that I know, need a professional set of mats for a basketball court or anything outdoors that require protection, Greatmats is who we turn to.”

About Quality Home Improvement, Inc

Founded in January of 2016, Quality Home Improvement, Inc was started by Moss, a 24-year home improvement business veteran.
Running this all-purpose home improvement company, Moss has received more than 100 certificates focusing on energy efficiency, among numerous other certificates.

Standing Up To the Abrasiveness of Appalachian Clogging

By Brett Hart

Dance, and especially clogging, is in the blood for St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin’s River City Dance studio owner Sheryl Baker. Now in her 40s, Sheryl has experience dancing on the stages of Dollywood in Pegeon Forge, Tenn., for six seasons, dancing for two years on the TV show ”The Old Midwest Barn Dance” and coaching several national champion soloists, receiving overall awards and gold medals at the AAU Junior Olympics, NCHC Championships and National Clogging Champions of America.

Getting her start in figure skating, tap, jazz, ballet, and Appalachian clogging, Sheryl has been a national clogging instructor and judge since 1990. Sheryl was the recipient of the ”Glen Hill Pioneer Award” in 2006, recognizing her for her contributions to the clogging community in choreography, teaching and spirit. In 2013, she was inducted into the clogging ”Hall of Fame.”

In addition to River City Dance, the 30-year veteran of dance instruction also runs the River City Cloggers based on the other side of the Scenic St. Croix River in Taylors Falls, Minn., and a competitive team called The Clogging Premier. She caters to clients ranging from preschool to 92 years young.

”Appalachian clogging is wonderful for all ages,” Baker said.

Baker’s clogging teams are known for their acapella clogging skills that combine the best tap sounds with rhythm and sound.

”Our team has the national title for the overall acapella team in the world,” Baker said. ”Our clogging nationals teams have won in some of the precision categories, hoedown categories and some of the line categories.”

Her 17-year-old daughter, Alyssa Keller, is also a two-time national champion in acapella clogging.

Finding the Proper Flooring for Clogging

As the popularity of Baker’s instruction grew, she decided to open River City Dance earlier this year and needed some quality flooring to meet the needs of this aggressive form of dance as well as other styles.

While searching for dance flooring online, she found Greatmats.com and was impressed by its descriptions of the types of dance flooring available and ultimately chose Rosco Adagio marley flooring.

”I was looking for a floor that was really durable and would stand up to an abrasive type of activity,” Baker said. ”It was very easy to install. It just laid down, and we got it installed very quickly. We opened our studio after two weeks of prepping the space, and it has really held up.”

She was also impressed with the controlled slip the flooring offered.

”Because (Appalachian clogging) is so aggressive, and you’re picking your feet up so high, it does move very quickly, you’re looking for a floor that has a surface that has non skid. … The dancers risk falling if you’re on a slippery surface.”

”This floor in particular, the marley floor, is wonderful, where we can do our movements and not have fear of falling,” Baker added. ”I always welcome anyone to look up River City Dance. It’s a fun atmosphere.”

River City Dance also offers classes in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Fitness and Canadian Step Dancing.

Sensei to the Stars Discovers Perfect Karate Flooring

By Brett Hart

After nearly 50 years of training some of the biggest names in martial arts and serving as a movie stunt man, Fumio Demura remains modest about his National and International influence in the martial arts community.

A 1961 All Japan Champion, Demura Sensei moved to the United States in 1965 where he introduced Shito-Ryo Karate Do and Okinawa Kobudo to the nation as well as creating and introducing Kobudo Kumite to the World at the age of 68.

His prowess and innovation in the martial arts world led Demura Sensei to train many of the top martial arts icons, including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal.

Movies and Television
What Demura Sensei is possible most well known for, however, is his stunt work in the Karate Kid movies and his mentor-ship of Pat Morita’s character, Mr. Miyagi in the movie franchise.

Demura Sensei says many aspects of the Karate Kid movie reflected his own personal life, such as the fishing and ”Wax on. Wax off” – a phrase in which he coined.

”I was doing (Wax on. Wax off.) for years before they made the movie,” he said, noting that after seeing the movie, many of his students called him and said, ”That’s me and you!”

Over the years, Demura Sensei has worked in 14 feature films and nearly 40 different television programs. He’s also written eight books and produced numerous videos, demonstrations and competitions around the globe.

Movies and competition bring out very different sides of the martial arts. In movies, he said, ”You have to sell what you’re doing,” Demura Sensei said.

He pointed to the 1971 cult classic movie ”Billy Jack” when Billy says, ”I’m going to take this right foot, and I’m going to wop you on that side of your face. And you want to know something? There’s not a damn thing you’re going to be able to do about it.”

He also pointed to the ”Wax on. Wax off” scene in the original (1984) Karate Kid movie.

”That type of thing,” Demura Sensei said. ”In the movie business, you have to have some selling point.”

In contrast, he noted that in competition there are rules, such as no hitting or kicking the groin or neck.

The Birth of a New Career
As a young man, Demura Sensei wanted to be an actor, but his father was against it. So he went to Nippon University where he majored in economics.

However, after wining the All Japan Championship, it changed his career direction towards the martial arts. Even with all he’s accomplished Demura Sensei says that moment is still his favorite.

”We had 48 provinces and each province has two people,” he said. ”We had 80-90 people competing. … Me and the other guy were the only two left. No other people there. … Not that much nervous, but kind of friend, but enemy. We don’t talk to each other, just waiting for the time to come up. That is a moment I’ll never forget.”

After his victory, Demura Sensei was introduced by his friend, Wisconsin native and internationally-known martial artist Donn Draeger, to Ohio-born martial arts promoter Dan Ivan, who brought him to the United States to teach karate.

Genbu-Kai Karate
Now, at the age of 78, Demura Sensei has Genbu-Kai Karate schools in 30 countries and 13 states within the United States. When asked how many students he’s trained over his career, he responded, ”Not too many. About 30-40… thousand.”

While several of those students are well-recognized action stars, that part of the job isn’t always glamorous.

”Some people, they just listen to me and do it,” Demura Sensei said. ”Chuck (Norris) and Bruce (Lee)… just listen. ‘Ok. Just do it that way?’ That’s it. Some people say ‘OK. Do it this way? But I do it that way.’ … Sometimes it’s very difficult.”

Evolution of Karate: From Fighting to Flooring
A lot has changed in Karate for Demura Sensei over the years.

”It used to be a different way,” he said. ”For example: Fighting. Everybody had a different way of fighting, but today everybody looks the same because they go to the world champion and everybody copies from that. … And the Kata – same way. … They do same kata from DVD or something. You watch and you copy. It used to be, you never do that kind of stuff.”

Even the flooring has evolved over time.

”I started karate with wood floor,” he said. ”In the beginning it was a little harder. We come to here, we had wrestling mat, but I hit my toes all the time. Then later, we got tatami mats.”

”The mat is best for me – tatami mats – not to soft, not too hard. And I can throw the kids without hurting them,” Demura Sensei said. ”On the legs, it’s not too bad. So perfect for me.”

He first learned about the tatami mats while visiting one of his schools that were using Greatmats martial arts mats and liked the feel and function of the mats. So when it came time to order mats for his relocated studio in Santa Ana, California, he turned to Greatmats.

”I recommend people if they have money, buy the tatami mat. … In the beginning… people said ‘too soft.’ But now, they love it!”

Quarter Moon Acres Equine Assisted Therapy Center

Polk County Wisconsin’s first-ever Equine Assisted Therapy Center didn’t just come together by chance. Two of the three founders had been contemplating the idea for many years. For one, it was a childhood dream, and for another, her own experience using horses to cope with disorders led them to help others turn disabilities into abilities.

“Horses helped me through the years,” said Quarter Moon Acres Equine Therapy Center co-founder Patti Andersen. “I have ADD myself. I have massive depression, and the horses themselves have helped me through that.”

Fellow co-founder Kristi Hart and a childhood friend had worked out plans for a future equine therapy center as pre-teens. That friend passed away far too early, but Kristi never forgot their plan to help others through horses.

In 2014, Patti, who had served as a second mother for Kristi through her teenage years, approached Kristi about opening an equine therapy center on Patti’s farm in rural Amery, Wisconsin. Kristi jumped on the opportunity, moved back to the area, and the duo quickly asked Karole Lee, a boarder at Patti’s farm, to join in the venture.

With all three still working full time jobs, they began offering therapy sessions one day per week in the Spring of 2015 with a crew made entirely of volunteers.

“Our clients range from 6 to 86 and everywhere in between,” Patti said. “Some clients with dementia are the 86 group. And the young ones – many times it’s not an anxiety disorder that they have, it could be just social skills – even at that age – or no core strength, which equine therapy helps with that too.”

The Need for Quality Stall Mats

With the average age of Quarter Moon Acres’ therapy horses being about 17, maintaining their comfort is essential to keeping them ready to serve.

“They’re in stall for quite a bit of the day,” Patti said. “They need some cushion on their feet and under their legs. Without stall mats, we would not be able to do what we do because – No legs on a horse, no feet. No horse, no therapy.”

Kristi pointed out that not all horse stall mats work the same, noting that some of the mats they’ve used have had a tendency to curl, exposing seams, creating a tripping hazard for the horses and making the mucking process more labor intensive than necessary.

“When God created horses, he did not make them the most graceful animals, so if there’s something to get caught on, they will get caught on it,” Patti said.

“We have to have sound horses,” Karole added. “If they aren’t sound, we can’t have them out in the program at all…. They’re not going to be sound if they trip over uneven mats.”

“These horses are our life,” Patti said. “With the mats from Greatmats, they are standing straight and tall.”

With Greatmats stall mats, Kristi says they are able to keep their therapy horses comfortable and they’re stalls dry and clean much easier, saving the volunteer QMA staff a lot of time, effort and frustration.

Each rider requires at least three volunteers to help them through each therapy session, so its important for the staff to be able to spend as much of its time as possible focusing on the riders.

The three founders thoroughly enjoy watching the progress their clients have made over the past three years as well as the reaction on the faces of the clients and their parents as they discover new things about the horses and confidence within themselves.

“Seeing the clients and parents is awesome, but I also think that watching the volunteers that come out here and support us is awesome,” Karole said. “We can’t do this program without them.”

“We’ve seen what horses can do for us, or the people that are close to us, not only physically, but emotionally as well, and we’re lucky enough to have this right at our fingertips,” Kristi said. “So to be able to take what we have and can use every day, and share it with people who don’t … is amazing!”